Standard Reconciliation Protocols for Chain of Custody Documentation
Verify physical receiving weights against transaction certificate balances using standard moisture regain adjustments before authorizing batch production.
RCS 3.0
Scope Standard
Chain of custody benchmarks measure and verify the presence of recycled input content across industrial processing steps. Administered by Textile Exchange, rcs 3.0 sets minimum requirements for third-party input certification and supply chain tracking for products containing 5 to 100 percent recycled content. The standard governs raw material input verification and physical mass balance tracking through intermediate handling.
It does not evaluate chemical inputs or social labor practices in certified facilities.
Traceability System
Supply chain participants track recycled material volume through consecutive manufacturing steps using standardized documentation. Under rcs 3.0, each processing site must hold a valid scope certificate confirming operational compliance before handling certified goods. Facilities issue transaction certificates for outbound shipments, documenting the exact net weight of verified recycled content.
Audit routines check physical inventory records against issued certificates to prevent material substitution or volume inflation.
Verification Protocol
Auditor reviews reconcile material inputs against output yields to ensure strict mass balance compliance.
Application Limit
Material claims remain restricted to verified physical content tracked through continuous chain of custody documentation. Within rcs 3.0, consumer packaging claims require a minimum of 5 percent recycled content, but social or environmental operational claims cannot be made under this standard alone. Combining uncertified waste streams with verified inputs without documented segregation voids certification for that production lot.